Setting Distributor
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Joined: Jul 2004
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Setting Distributor
Can someone tell me how to set the distributor in correctly. I took it out to replace the vacuum can. I thought my marks were lined up but i guess not. Do you spin the motor until the timing points to " 0 " on the timing wheel. Then set the distributor with the rotor pointing to the #1-cylonder then drop it in?
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http://216.122.167.32/forum/tech.cgi
Scroll down to the thread titled "finding TDC", Gary Schisler, 8/18, 10:07 AM. Read the entire thread.
Duke
Scroll down to the thread titled "finding TDC", Gary Schisler, 8/18, 10:07 AM. Read the entire thread.
Duke
Last edited by SWCDuke; Aug 18, 2004 at 09:57 PM.
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From: Epsom Victoria
Over all you have it right but there may be a few more points to look at:
First is number one at TDC on the compression or exaust stroke when you are at 0 degrees?
Second; if number one is at TDC on the compression cycle and you have the distributor rotor pointing at number one and the distbibutor still dosnt drop and sit down properly, its a bet that you oil pump drive slot is not ligned up with the drive blade located in the base of the distributor drive gear.
Look at where the drive blade in the base of the distributor gear is positioned. The slot in the oil pump shaft must be in reasonable alignment with the blade in the gear as they come together.
Note that as you insert the distributor you will see the rotor turn as the distributor gear engages the cam gear. you will have to set your rotor positon and the oil pump drive slot forward of the final rotor position to compensate for this rotation during the cam gear engagement. Crudely the oil pump slot only needs to be set at about half to two thirds of the compensation that the rotor requires, as it engages later than the rotor.
To ajust the oil pump slot position you will need a large screw driver or if you are cheap like me, I crushed 18 inch length of 1/2 inch copper pipe in the vice. The crushed scrap of water pipe makes a great oil pump alignment tool. Hope the above helps, good luck with it.
First is number one at TDC on the compression or exaust stroke when you are at 0 degrees?
Second; if number one is at TDC on the compression cycle and you have the distributor rotor pointing at number one and the distbibutor still dosnt drop and sit down properly, its a bet that you oil pump drive slot is not ligned up with the drive blade located in the base of the distributor drive gear.
Look at where the drive blade in the base of the distributor gear is positioned. The slot in the oil pump shaft must be in reasonable alignment with the blade in the gear as they come together.
Note that as you insert the distributor you will see the rotor turn as the distributor gear engages the cam gear. you will have to set your rotor positon and the oil pump drive slot forward of the final rotor position to compensate for this rotation during the cam gear engagement. Crudely the oil pump slot only needs to be set at about half to two thirds of the compensation that the rotor requires, as it engages later than the rotor.
To ajust the oil pump slot position you will need a large screw driver or if you are cheap like me, I crushed 18 inch length of 1/2 inch copper pipe in the vice. The crushed scrap of water pipe makes a great oil pump alignment tool. Hope the above helps, good luck with it.
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From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
If you have already tried to fire the engine and it did not start, then let's start from scratch.
1. You will need to find TDC on the firing stroke (compression stroke) of No. 1 cylinder. Easiest way is to remove the spark plug from No. 1 (driver's side forward cylinder), and rotate the engine by hand (wrench on the center harmonic balancer 5/8" head bolt - if you have one). Rotate the engine while feeling for air escaping out the plug hole, and watching for the mark on the timing tab to align with the normal initial timing position (probably between 4 and 10 degrees before top dead center (BTDC). Since the engine fires on every other rotation, you need to feel pressure out of the spark plug hole to ensure you are on the compression (firing) stroke. Note: Only rotate the engine clockwise when facing the front of the engine (wrench at top of engine being pulled towards the driver's side).
If you do not have a balancer bolt, you will need to "bump" the engine over in short duration bumps with the starter, while an assistant feels for pressure at the plug hole and watching the timing marks. Disconnect the ignition wire to the coil first!
2. With the engine set at the initial timing mark, now install the distributor. The dist. gear is helical, and therefore the rotor will "rotate" when going into place. The bottom of this gear also mates to the oil pump shaft (slotted shaft engagement), and is difficult to get aligned. You may need to use a long handled screw driver to align the pump shaft, before installing the dist. Make sure the pump shaft is engaged before trying to fire up the engine (otherwise, you may not get any oil pressure!). The goal is to have the dist. rotor aligned with No. 1 plug terminal (when the dist. housing is close to being in the correct position - roughly, the vacuum advance can should be pointing somewhere towards the rear of the pass. side front tire).
3. To initially set the timing, button up your dist., make all the wiring connections, and lightly tighten the dist. clamp bolt (just tight enough so you can still just rotate the dist. housing by hand). Then hook up your timing light to No. 1 cylinder ignition wire, turn on the ignition switch. Rotate the dist. clockwise (while looking down), while watching the timing tab with the timing light. When the light flashes, you have set the initial timing position.
4. Recheck your timing again after the engine is started (don't forget to disconnect the vacuum can hose, and cap the hose, while setting the timing). Then tighten the dist. housing clamp bolt, and reconnect the vacuum advance hose.
Sorry if I duplicated what was said above, but was in the middle of typing this when my Dial Up dropped me! I saved it, and then posted it, but now I see that other's have already posted answers.
Good luck,
Plasticman
1. You will need to find TDC on the firing stroke (compression stroke) of No. 1 cylinder. Easiest way is to remove the spark plug from No. 1 (driver's side forward cylinder), and rotate the engine by hand (wrench on the center harmonic balancer 5/8" head bolt - if you have one). Rotate the engine while feeling for air escaping out the plug hole, and watching for the mark on the timing tab to align with the normal initial timing position (probably between 4 and 10 degrees before top dead center (BTDC). Since the engine fires on every other rotation, you need to feel pressure out of the spark plug hole to ensure you are on the compression (firing) stroke. Note: Only rotate the engine clockwise when facing the front of the engine (wrench at top of engine being pulled towards the driver's side).
If you do not have a balancer bolt, you will need to "bump" the engine over in short duration bumps with the starter, while an assistant feels for pressure at the plug hole and watching the timing marks. Disconnect the ignition wire to the coil first!
2. With the engine set at the initial timing mark, now install the distributor. The dist. gear is helical, and therefore the rotor will "rotate" when going into place. The bottom of this gear also mates to the oil pump shaft (slotted shaft engagement), and is difficult to get aligned. You may need to use a long handled screw driver to align the pump shaft, before installing the dist. Make sure the pump shaft is engaged before trying to fire up the engine (otherwise, you may not get any oil pressure!). The goal is to have the dist. rotor aligned with No. 1 plug terminal (when the dist. housing is close to being in the correct position - roughly, the vacuum advance can should be pointing somewhere towards the rear of the pass. side front tire).
3. To initially set the timing, button up your dist., make all the wiring connections, and lightly tighten the dist. clamp bolt (just tight enough so you can still just rotate the dist. housing by hand). Then hook up your timing light to No. 1 cylinder ignition wire, turn on the ignition switch. Rotate the dist. clockwise (while looking down), while watching the timing tab with the timing light. When the light flashes, you have set the initial timing position.
4. Recheck your timing again after the engine is started (don't forget to disconnect the vacuum can hose, and cap the hose, while setting the timing). Then tighten the dist. housing clamp bolt, and reconnect the vacuum advance hose.
Sorry if I duplicated what was said above, but was in the middle of typing this when my Dial Up dropped me! I saved it, and then posted it, but now I see that other's have already posted answers.
Good luck,
Plasticman
Last edited by Plasticman; Aug 18, 2004 at 10:30 PM.
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From: milwaukee wi
if you are really cheap and don't have a 1/2 inch piece of copper pipe, a wooden paint stirrer can also be used to turn the oil pump into position [as i recall, the stirrer just fits into the hole in the manifold]. i used this until i found a giant screwdriver at a flea market.
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Setting Distributor
Thank you all. I did it. That one trick on after setting the distributor and hooking up the timing light, then setting the key on really helped. It told me if I was in right, wrong, or even a little off. All I did was move the distributor over one notch and I was home free.
Thanks Bill
Thanks Bill
